Ongoing eligibility
We regularly review tenants to make sure they still have a need for housing assistance.
What is the ongoing eligibility policy?
The ongoing eligibility policy means we will regularly assess your eligibility for housing to see if your circumstances have improved and whether you no longer have a need for housing assistance.
You won’t be eligible if:
- your combined gross assessable income (you and your partner) is more than $80,000 per year
- you or any member of the household owns, or part owns property in Australia or overseas
- you fail to give us information we request for the eligibility check—we will assume you own property and/or earn more than $80,000 and you will be ineligible.
Ineligible households will have to move out of the property and enter the private rental or home ownership market.
What happens during the eligibility review?
We will write to you when it is time for your review. So that we can see if you are still eligible for housing assistance, you will need to supply the department with information about:
- who lives in your household
- the income details of the people who live in the house.
If you do not provide this information, we may decide that your household is no longer eligible to receive housing assistance and will serve you a Notice to Leave.
If you have a continued need for housing assistance, you do not need to move out and we will continue to review your tenancy regularly.
If I’m no longer eligible, how long will I get to move out of the property?
You will have 6 months to move out. You can leave the property any time during this 6 months.
Can ineligible households ask for a review of their household circumstances?
Yes, you can ask for a review of your circumstances during the 6 month exit period. Talk to your nearest Housing Service Centre about which form you will need to complete to explain why you should not have to move out. You must also provide evidence supporting this request. Ask the staff at your nearest Housing Service Centre about the type of evidence you should provide to support the review of your household's income.
We will assess the review form and the supporting evidence to work out if you still need ongoing housing assistance.
We will tell you in writing whether or not you are eligible for ongoing housing assistance and if you have to move out.
What if my circumstances change during the 6 months I have to vacate?
If your circumstances change during the 6 month period you should contact your nearest Housing Service Centre.
You will need to give us details of the change and include evidence to support your request for a review of your circumstances.
What if my circumstances change after I move out?
If your circumstances change after you have moved out of the property you can reapply for housing assistance.
Can tenants buy the property they live in?
Ineligible households can apply to buy the property they live in through our Sales to Tenants program, but not all homes are available for sale.
